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| Ryan L. Jenkins and Shari Watts Photo by Laura Durant |
by Gil Benbrook
In Tom Ziegler’s heartfelt play Grace and Glorie, two very different women form an unlikely bond that changes them both in profound ways. Set against the backdrop of rural Virginia, the story follows Glorie, a former high-powered New York City executive who relocates with her family to the South, and Grace, a fiercely independent elderly farm woman who has returned to her cherished home to spend her final days. Their connection begins when Glorie becomes Grace’s hospice volunteer, but what unfolds is a touching and often humorous exploration of friendship, resilience, and the lessons we learn from one another.
Black Theatre Troupe brings this tender and funny story to life on stage with Shari Watts and Ryan L. Jenkins as Grace and Glorie, under Chanel Bragg's direction, with performances at Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center from September 5-21.
In between rehearsals, Watts and Jenkins sat down to answer some questions about this production and share their thoughts on stepping into these complex roles. They also reflect on the challenges and joys of bringing such richly drawn characters to life, the emotional resonance of the play’s themes, the moments of humor and humanity that make Grace and Glorie so moving, and what they hope audiences will take away from this intimate and meaningful story.
What can you tell us about the character you play and what do you find most compelling about her story?
"I play Grace, a feisty opinonated ninety-year-old illiterate widow with cancer from the Appalachian Mountains area in Virginia. She has never been more than 50 miles from her farm. She left her church 50 years ago but keeps a tight hold on her relationship with God. She has come home from the hospital after refusing further treatment to live out her final days among her land even as it is being bulldozed away after she had to sell it. All that was enough to be compelling to an actor let alone the rest of the story between the two women and the playwrights’ words"
How did you approach portraying the emotional journey these women go through while still bringing out the humor in the script?
"To have Chanel (Bragg) as our director and Phoenix (Jacob) as our stage manager create a truly safe process where we can be vulnerable and express our emotions to each other and then find the needed moments that create the humor our characters share out of the circumstances and their differences, is a gift to actors."
The play explores themes of unlikely friendships, aging, loss, and personal growth. Which of the themes resonates most strongly with you and why?
"Grace resonates with me in so many ways according to my own life. Aging, loss of the family farm, loved ones passing, moving away from organized religion but staying spiritually connected to a higher power and finding connections with other people of all ages and walks of life in various unlikely ways."
Did the two of you work together before or know each other? How do you work together to create the believable bond that develops between Grace and Glorie?
"I have followed Ryan since I first saw her in a small part at Stray Cat Theatre. She held me with her presence. Then I really saw her huge talent in Sunset Baby at Black Theatre Troupe. I have seen her perform many times since and I have gone up to her at auditions and expressed how I would love to be able to work with her. I truly think somehow this was meant to be and I am so grateful. "
What do you hope audiences will take away from experiencing this play and these two characters at Black Theatre Troupe?
"I hope the audience takes with them the beauty of life. What we all have in common being human when the heart opens and guides us. Lord knows, we sure need that now more than anything!"
What can you tell us about the character you play and what do you find most compelling about her story?
"Gloria Whitmore has worked hard to define success on her terms. She wants to be respected, and for her efforts and talents to be acknowledged. The way she voices her opinion, vocally advocates for others, and challenges traditional ideals of gender roles and religion have been fascinating to investigate and craft."
How did you approach portraying the emotional journey these women go through while still bringing out the humor in the script?
"All the pain, fear, uncertainty, and brevity is rooted in the truth of these character's lives and the moments they share. They connect through their explorations of the beautiful AND ugly sides of life itself, through the lenses of their respective lives. Allowing space for us to express heavier emotions as raw and messy as they can be gives the humorous and touching moments a deeper resonance as well."
The play explores themes of unlikely friendships, aging, loss, and personal growth. Which of the themes resonates most strongly with you and why?
"Currently, aging and loss are resonating most with me. The concept of time and change is ever present, and brings aging and loss with it. We lose loved ones as we age, and at times we lose parts of ourselves (for better and worse) as we experience life. Aging is a temporary privilege that is too often stigmatized and feared, while a person's life is equally too often celebrated at its end. "
Did the two of you work together before or know each other? How do you work together to create the believable bond that develops between Grace and Glorie?
"This is my first time working with Shari, and I've been a fan of her work for years now. The rehearsal process has granted us time to personally connect in addition to crafting these characters and their stories."
What do you hope audiences will take away from experiencing this play and these two characters at Black Theatre Troupe?
"There is strength in caring for others, AND caring about others."
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